McGrath Lithgow Property Management Monthly Newsletter – April 2025

What’s Changing: Pet Law in NSW Residential Tenancies

Under the new legislation taking effect from 19 May 2025, there will be a major shift in how pets are handled in rental agreements. Here’s a quick overview:

• Default Position: Pets Allowed (With Conditions) – Tenants will now be allowed to keep up to 4 pets in rental properties by default, unless the landlord provides a valid reason to refuse, supported by evidence.

• Approval Process Streamlined – Landlords must respond to pet requests within a specific timeframe (to be confirmed in the detailed regulations). Silence or delay may result in automatic approval.

• Pet Clauses in Leases Updated – Existing lease agreements may need to be updated to reflect the new requirements. Standard lease templates will also be revised to align with the reforms.

• Damage & Responsibility – Tenants will be held responsible for any damage caused by pets, and landlords may still set reasonable conditions for pet ownership, such as professional cleaning or pest control at the end of a tenancy.

These reforms aim to create a fairer, more transparent system for both landlords and tenants while reflecting the growing number of pet-owning renters in NSW.

The new rules have also brought in a requirement that a landlord must respond to a pet request in a period of 21 days.  If you choose to not respond, it will be deemed automatically approved under the new legislation.

These changes were introduced following an election commitment by the NSW Labor Government to make pet ownership more accessible for renters across the state.

We understand that many landlords may have concerns about pets in their properties. However, personal preference is no longer a valid reason to refuse a pet request under the new law. Please keep in mind that our office is responsible for enforcing these regulations—we do not create the laws ourselves.

If you have any questions or concerns about this change, please feel free to contact me directly or speak with your property manager.